Rail-bond.



No. 692,395. Patented Feb. 4, I902.

M. F WHITUN. RAIL BOND.

(Application filed Jun 25,'1901.\

(N0 Model.)

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UNrEEn 'TATES ATENT OFFICE.

MORRIS F. lVHllON, OF HINGI'IAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

RAlL -BOND.

SPECIFICATION thawing part of Letters Patent No. 692,395, dated February4, 1902. Application filed June 25, 1901. Serial No. 65,950. (No model.)

To all whont it may concern:

Beit known that I, MORRIS F. WHITON, of Hingham, in the county ofPlymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented an ImprovementinRail-Bonds, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

This invention has for its object to improve and simplify theconstruction of rail-bonds, comprising, essentially, a laminated strip,to the end that the extremities of the strip may be very securely heldtogether to insure perfect electrical connection of the several partscomposing the bond. In accordance with this invention the laminatedstrip is composed of a number of like superimposed plates or strips ofcopper or other material, formed to present a pair of flat feet and anintermediate extensible portion, said plates or strips being madeseparate or independent of each other, and when placed one upon anotherthe flat feet will comprehend the free ends of all the plates or strips.The free ends of the plates or strips will be dipped in melted solder,which is allowed to enter between them, and they are then pressedtogether by a suitable clamp and secured by the solder when it hardens.When dipping the free ends of the plates or strips in the melted solder,they will spring apart more or less, which allows the solder to enterfreely between, which is important, for the reason that said endsthereby become fully coated with the solder, and consequently will bevery firmly secured together and a perfect electrical connectioninsured. The ends of the laminated strip having been thus securedtogether by the solder are then inclosed in a ferrule, band, or clip,which passes around them and which is also secured to them bysolder,each ferrule,band, or clip having disposed upon one side a flatplate of solder for securing the bond to the rails. This ferrule, band,or clip incloses the extremity of the bond and protects the sidesthereof in such manner as to prevent exudation of the solder therefromwhen the bond is being attached to the rails by the application of heat.

Figure 1 shows in side'elevation a rail-bond embodying this invention.Fig. 2 is a longilaminated strip are dipped in melted solder for thepurpose of securing them together, and while held in the melted solderfor this purpose they will spring apart more or less, so that the solderfreely enters between them and thoroughly coats them, and when withdrawnfrom the melted solder said free ends or extremities are pressedtogether by a suitable clamp or clamps, so that when the solder hardensthey will be firmly secured together and a perfect electrical connectioninsured. The intermediate portions of the laminated strip will not beconnected together. If the bond thus constructed should be applied tothe rails, it will be found that the solder interposed between theseveral layers at the extremities thereof would exude more or less andwould result in an imperfect electrical connection between the severalmem bers or parts composing the bond, and to pro vide against thistendency said extremities or flat feet are inclosed by or wrapped with aferrule, clip, or band a, which may be simply a plate of sheet-copperwrapped around said extremities and soldered thereto. The forrule, clip,or band which is thus wrapped around said flat feet practically closesthe side openings between the several layers of the laminated strip andeffectively prevents exudation of the solder therefrom when the bond isapplied to the rails.

Each ferrule, clip, or band has upon one side a plate or thick layer 01,of solder,which is used for connecting the bond to the rails. Whenapplying the bond to the rails, the rails will be operated upon in anysuitable manner to provide a bright surface, and they will then beheated, and when hot enough to melt the solder the bond having thelayers of solder upon TOG its flat feet will be pressed hard againstsaid rails and held in position by suitable clamps or otherwise untilthe solder hardens. It is the heat thus utilized in attaching the bondsof the rails which causes the solder to exude between the several layersof the laminated strip unless the side openings thereat are closed, bythe ferrule, clip, or band. Said ferrule, band, or clip also serves tohold the several layers composing the fiat feet in correct relativeposition at all times, and particularly when applying the bond to therails, for it will be seen that when applying the bond to the rails thesolder which secures together the several plates or strips a will softenand would tend to separate if not thus held.

Witnesses:

B. J. NOYES, JOHN W. DECROW.

